Hat-pin-point guard.



P. H. BURNS.

HAT'PIN POINT GUARD.

APPLICATION FILED 0011s, 1912.

Patented Mar. 11, 1913.

' Wfifl: 170216721507" M JW 4 7 66703 Jf 5107 705 fiazowv UNITED STATESPATENT OFFICE.

FRANK H. BURNS, 0F WALTHAM, MASSACHUSETTS.

HAT-PIN-POINT GUARD.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, F RANK H. BURNS, a citizen of the United States. andresident of IValtham, in the county of Middlesex and State ofMassachusetts, have invented an Improvement in Hat-Pin-Point Guards, ofwhich the following description, in connection with the accompanyingdrawings, is a specification, like letters on the drawings representinglike parts.

My present invention is a protector or guard for the point of a hat-pinto combine at the same time protection and ornamentation or adornment.Laws have recently been enacted regulating the menace of projectinghat-pin points. Accordingly, Ihave devised a protector which, whilecovering the point of a hat-pin sufficiently to prevent its causing thepoint of a hat-pin sufliciently to prevent its causing any injury, willpresent the appearance of an ornament and preferably of the head of ahat-pin.

A further object of my invention is to make this protector exceedinglyinexpensive so that it may be practicable to furnish it with the verycheapest hat-pin. Accordingly, I inclose and preferably compress a smallblock of rubber within pin-directing sockets or holders, and so shapethe outer end as to support the desired ornament, which is preferably ofsuch shape as still further to conceal the pin point.

In the drawings, Figure 1 shows my improved hat-pin in side elevation;Fig. 2 is an enlarged sectional view of the guard in operative positionon the pointed end of a pin; Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the blockof rubber; and Fig. 4 is an enlarged sectional view of the rubberholders or pindirecting sockets.

The pin 1 and its head 2 may be of any usual or preferred kind, having afree pointed end 3 for receiving my point-guard 4. The latter comprisesa block of rubber 5 or other compressible friction substance, preferablybeing cylindrical in shape and receiving the pin with considerablefrictional resistance when pushed centrally therethrough at the point oralong the line 6. This block of rubber is forced into an outercup-shaped holder 7 which is provided with a central hole 8 fordirecting the pin-point 3 properly to the center 6 when the guard ispushed over the point 3. Then a guiding cap or socket 9 is driven orotherwise secured Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed October 16, 1912.

Patented Mar. 11, 1913.

Serial No. 726,039.

in the open end of the cap or socket 7 and preferably compresses theforward end of the rubber 5 so as still further to increase thefrictional resistance of the latter. This guiding cap has preferably anouter flange 10 for limiting its inward movement and a central conicalportion 11 for guiding the pin point and deflecting it to the centralopening 12 thereof in case the pin should be forced diagonally or in animproper direction not in exact line with the center 6. In the outeropen end of the cap 9 I mount an ornamental head or concealer 13 havingsuch a construction that it will conceal the point 3. The ornamentalportion let thereof may be made of cloth, feathers, or any other fabricor substance adapted to conceal and preferably receive the point in casethe point should be projected through the rubber and beyond the opening12. Or this ornament let may be a gem if desired, and in such case wouldpreferably have a hole or other form of opening for the point of the pm.

In use, the pin 1 is inserted through the hat in the ordinary way, andthen the user simply shoves the guard 4 over the point more or less asshown in Fig. 2. The result is that proper protection for the point isthus afforded and at the same time the hat is embellished with theappearance of another hat-pin, inasmuch as the ornamental head 13 of theguard gives the appearance of being the head of another h at-pin on thatside of the hat opposite the head 2.

The construction of my guard is at once simple, inexpensive andefficient, the rubber or friction member 5 being simply a block,preferably compressed somewhat so as to hold tenaciously on the pin whenthe point is pushed into it, and the two socket members 7 and 9 beingsimply thin pieces of metal struck up to the shape shown and serving thedouble purpose of retaining and compressing the rubber and also guidingthe pin point to a proper place through the center of the rubber.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secureby Letters Patent is:

A hat-pin point protector, comprising a block of rubber, a cup shapedholder therefor apertured at one end to guide the pin point into therubber and open at its opposite end, a guiding cap fitting into saidopen end of the holder in position to compress the outer end of theblock of rubber within said holder, said cap having a central conicalportion extending outwardly from its inner end for pressing the outerend of the rubber and at the same time directing the pin point, saidguiding cap having an outer flange for limiting its inward movement insaid holder, and a concealer carried by said 10 guiding cap and mountedwithin said outer flange and adapted to conceal the point of the pin.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification, inthe presence of two subscribing witnesses.

FRANK H. BURNS.

WVitnesses:

PETER R. CRAIG, CLARENCE A. MoGoY.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. 0.

